Blues' Youths were depleted themselves as central defender Callum Whittaker and centre-forward Kyle Asante were called up by Steve Tilson to augment the senior squad's threadbare substitutes' bench but, despite having to weather a second half fightback from the visitors, they showed great resilience to claim a 2-1 win at Boots & Laces.
Asante's absence meant that the Shrimpers lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, Crawford spearheading the attack with support from wide men Julian Okai and Marcus Milner. James Dunn came in for Daniel Bentley in goal whilst George Smith was restored to the starting line-up in place of John Owinja, with Jamie Dennis moving to right-back. James Stevens replaced Asante in the eleven.
Okai was the first player to test the Daggers goalkeeper as he cut in from the right-hand side and sent a scorching shot towards the top left-hand corner of the goal, only for the custodian to get a faint fingertip to the ball and turn it onto the outside of the post.
On 13 minutes, Kane Ferdinand came close to netting in successive home matches but his glancing header from Stevens' set-piece was scrambled off of the goal-line.
Dagenham managed to hold Ricky Duncan's charges to two draws in the Youth Alliance League during their inaugural season and they continued to hold their own this time around, Dunn making a smart save low to his right after a shot had been fired through a crowded penalty area.
Teddy Nesbitt's raid down the left-hand side saw him clipped by a sliding tackle, but he maintained his balance to square the ball to Crawford from the bye-line although the forward directed his side-foot from close range agonisingly past the left-hand upright.
Ferdinand made up for his error in gifting Lewis Dennis possession just outside the area when he recovered to block the forward's progress and, in the 35th minute, Southend took the lead. Okai was denied by the 'keeper as he attempted to convert Milner's teasing cross, but the winger quickly pounced on the loose ball to cut back to Smith, who smashed a rising shot into the roof of the net from twelve yards.
It remained 1-0 at half-time, but the second period saw Daggers fight back. Shotstopper Dunn showed excellent anticipation to rush off of his line to deny a Dagenham forward with his right leg before the visitors' Connor Mead nodded a free header over the crossbar midway through the half.
In between, a wonderful flowing move saw Okai's path towards goal blocked, with Dennis picking up possession and searching out Smith on the right. He centred the ball and Okai was again denied, a diving defender deflecting the ball wide of the goal.
Dagenham deservedly equalised on 71 minutes, although United did all they could to repel the pressure. It took three attempts for the Daggers' centre-forward to force the ball over the line as first Dunn parried out and then Nesbitt headed off of the goal-line, with a poked effort finally eluding the Shrimpers back-line.
Blues introduced Alex Woodyard and Dwayne Orachi for a combative final quarter-of-an-hour and their presence almost paid dividends immediately, the pair combining to set up Crawford, whose attempt from no more than five yards out lacked the strength to cross the goal-line.
Another substitute, Owinja, then instigated another sweeping move forwards, bringing the ball out of defence before offloading to Woodyard. The midfielder passed to Merrick James-Lewis and Dennis and Nesbitt also touched the ball before Orachi's header failed to find the target.
Finally, in the 85th minute, Southend restored their lead as Crawford latched onto Dennis' through-ball. The front man neatly rounded the goalkeeper before striking into the empty net from fifteen yards, sparking wild celebrations.
During five minutes of stoppage time Dunn saved the Dagenham goalscorer's twenty-yard effort, but there were no more scares as Blues tasted victory ahead of next weekend's testing trip to Leyton Orient and, beyond that, the FA Youth Cup First Round clash at Millwall.
Southend United U18s: James Dunn; Jamie Dennis, Kane Ferdinand, Adetayo Osifuwa, Teddy Nesbitt; Julian Okai (Alex Woodyard 75), James Stevens, George Smith (John Owinja 62), Merrick James-Lewis, Marcus Milner (Dwayne Orachi 75); Harry Crawford. Substitute not used: Daniel Bentley.
Goals: Smith (35), Crawford (85).
Cautions: Osifuwa (76 - adopting an aggressive attitude), Dunn (76 - dissent), Orachi (90+3 - foul tackle).
Thanks to the Shrimpers Trust website for the reprinting of these reports, for the Trust's own youth section, go here:
www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/home.asp?page_id=10
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